Originally from South Hampton County, Virginia, the Hundley Family, once long-time residents of Alexandria, settled in the segregated city between the late 1930s and early 40s. The family lived on South St. Asaph Street in the historic Bottoms neighborhood. The children, six girls, and two boys attended Lyles Crouch elementary and Parker-Gray High School and they attended Roberts Memorial Methodist Church.
The Hundley’s were hard workers, model parents, and upright citizens. Pervis Hundley was a Porter and his wife Blois worked as a cook at Lyles Crouch School. Blois understood the importance of a well-rounded education and wanted the best education for her children.
In 1958, Blois Hundley unexpectedly made history in the Civil Rights struggle. At a Parker-Gray PTA meeting, NAACP representatives asked parents if they wanted their children to attend white schools. Spontaneously, Blois Hundley raised her hand. From that gesture, two Hundley children, Pearl and Theodosia were among 14 African American children named in the NAACP federal lawsuit.
Blois Hundley had no idea how much grief her action would cause her. When Alexandria’s School Superintendent, Thomas “TC” Williams learned about the Hundley children being named in the lawsuit, he immediately fired Blois from her job as a cook at the public school. A long-time segregationist, Williams, served as Alexandria’s School Superintendent for close to 30 years. He and members of the Alexandria School Board resisted integrating Alexandria’s public schools for most of those years. Blois was stunned and angered about being fired, but she was not broken. She held her head high and never let her children see her down. Hundley’s firing caused a media frenzy. Journalists from across the country interviewed her and reported her story.
The Alexandria School Board supported TC Williams until the U.S. Department of Justice initiated a civil rights investigation into his action. In order to circumvent the investigation, Williams offered Blois Hundley her old job back. However, being the perfect role model, Hundley refused his offer. She never worked for the Alexandria School system again. Hundley and her family eventually left Alexandria and moved to Washington, DC, never to return.
Like their mother, Blois Hundley’s children grew up to be model citizens as well. One of Blois’ daughters LaJeune, a 1958 Parker-Gray High School graduate, made history taking her Mother’s high standards to another level. Using her beauty and grace, LaJeune followed her dreams and became one of America’s first, African American internationally recognized models winning many accolades. La Jeune graced the covers of Sepia, Ebony, Jet, and Life magazines. In 1960, she was crowned “Miss Festival” at France’s Cannes Film Festival, a high honor in the modeling field.
Blois Hundley and the whole Hundley family represent a model of pride, dignity, and respect for African Americans and all of humanity worldwide. Their contributions to the history of African Americans in Alexandria will never be forgotten.
Alexandria African American Hall of Fame
